COVID-19 In South Africa Research Articles

The effects of mass media messages, perceived susceptibility and self-rated health on public attitude towards COVID-19 in South Africa

ObjectivesSouth Africa was the worst affected country in Africa by the COVID-19 pandemic and it is important to interrogate the attitude of the populace towards the pandemic for future interventions. Therefore, this study examined effects of mass media messages, susceptibility to COVID-19 and self-rated health on the attitudes of South Africans towards the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData was from the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) of 2021 which is a nationally representative panel survey of about 7,000 South African individuals in all the nine provinces. Analyses of data were through descriptive statistics, chi square test and logistic regression models.ResultsThe results showed that 61.28% of the resondents did not take COVID-19 test while 91.09% of them engaged in behavioral changes such as social distancing and wearing of face masks. In addition, 74.27% of the respondents had access to mass media information, 70.44% believed they have good physical health while 32.43% felt they were not susceptible to COVID-19. The chi-square results of attitude towards COVID-19 showed significant differences in access to mass media messages on COVID-19, race, and province of residence. Furthermore, respondents who had access to mass media information on COVID-19 (OR = 1.469; p = 0.001) and respondents who believed that they were susceptible to COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.443; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of engagement in behavioral changes to avoid the COVID-19.ConclusionThese findings therefore emphasize the need for increased awareness and sensitization of the people about the susceptibility and adverse effects of diseases to ensure that they adopt the appropriate attitudes that will safeguard them from such diseases outbreak.

Facing COVID-19 in South Africa

Facing COVID-19 in South Africa

Adolescents’ behavioral changes and preventive practices against COVID-19 in South Africa: The influence of household characteristics

The South African government instituted a countermeasure against COVID-19 in March 2020, which had a significant impact on many individuals, particularly the youth. However, there is a limited understanding of how household characteristics influenced adolescents’ behavioral changes and their adoption of preventive measures during the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the role of household characteristics and adolescents’ behavioral responses to COVID-19 in South Africa. Using the latest data from the South African National Income Dynamics-Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (Wave 5), which includes responses from 5581 (99.9%) youths aged 15 – 24, we analyzed changes in their behaviors and the preventive measures they adopted. The study controlled for various household, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. We utilized cross-tabulations and an ordinal logistics regression model to determine the relationship between the covariates and the outcome of behavioral changes and preventive measures adopted. Our findings revealed that none of the respondents adopted all recommended precautionary measures for COVID-19, while 55.7% exhibited low behavioral changes, and only 2.7% exhibited higher behavioral changes throughout the pandemic. The results indicate that, at both the individual and household levels, factors such as gender, educational attainment, source of household income, and access to electricity increase the odds of behavioral changes against COVID-19 in South Africa. In addition, among household-level factors, adolescents without access to water were more likely to adopt one to three preventive measures compared to those with access to water (52.2% vs. 47.9%, p < 0.001). Therefore, to effectively prevent the spread of infection in South Africa, it is pertinent to address these household characteristics and encourage preventive measures tailored to these factors.

The Cause of Panic at the Outbreak of Covid-19 in South Africa – A Comparative Analysis With Similar Outbreak in China and New York

The Cause of Panic at the Outbreak of Covid-19 in South Africa – A Comparative Analysis With Similar Outbreak in China and New York

The dynamics embedded in COVID-19 pandemic responses in South Africa: Implications for public healthcare delivery

South Africa recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Africa despite having what seemed to be one of the best government response mechanisms on the continent. This paper explores the responses of both the government and the citizens of South Africa to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a literature review, the study established that the government's response to the pandemic was influenced by various factors, including the responsibility to protect citizens' lives, the need to defend the state's sovereignty, and compliance with global health imperatives. This was achieved through strict and coercive government measures, which left little room for public participation in decision-making. The findings also indicate public dissent towards government directives, which may be attributed to a lack of public awareness and preparedness in public health emergencies. The social contract theory provides a useful framework for analysing and understanding the actions of the government and citizens in response to COVID-19 in South Africa. Understanding these aspects is crucial for drawing informative lessons for effective public health and socio-economic interventions in future pandemics and health-related emergencies.

Resilience in the time of crisis: A review of the maternal, perinatal and reproductive health effects of COVID-19 in South Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on the health sector globally and in South Africa (SA). To review the effects of COVID-19 on maternal, perinatal and reproductive health outcomes and service utilisation in SA. Three routine national data collection systems were sourced: the District Health Information System, the Saving Mothers reports of the National Committee on Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths and the Saving Babies reports from the National Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Committee using data from the Perinatal Problem Identification Program. There were 35% and 8% increases in maternal and stillbirth mortality rates, respectively, in 2020 and 2021, which correlated with the COVID-19 waves. However, in 2022, rates returned to pre-COVID levels. Antenatal visits and facility births showed little change, but there was a shift to more rural provinces. The use of oral and injectable contraceptives and termination of pregnancy services decreased markedly in 2020 and 2021, with a sustained shift to long-acting reversible contraceptives. The increase in maternal deaths was predominantly due to COVID-19 respiratory complications, but also an increase in obstetric haemorrhage. Stillbirths increased significantly (10%) for birthweights between 2 000 g and 2 499 g, categorised mostly as unexplained stillbirths or preterm labour, but no increase in neonatal deaths was observed. Administrative avoidable factors increased by 24% in the 2020 - 2022 triennium, but there was no increase in patient/community level or healthcare provider-related avoidable factors during the pandemic years. COVID-19 caused a marked increase in maternal death and stillbirth rates in 2020 and 2021 due to both direct effects of the virus and indirect effects on functioning of the health system. The continued, although modified, health-seeking behaviour of women and the rapid return to pre-COVID-19 mortality rates demonstrates enormous resilience in women and the health system.

"Tremendous burdens often unveil enormous gifts": The experiences of South African caregivers implementing speech and language teletherapy for children with cerebral palsy during COVID-19.

In accordance with South Africa's restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, some speech-language pathologists (SLPs) attempted to engage in novice teletherapy regimes to ensure continuity of care for children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to explore the experiences of caregivers of children with CP implementing SLP teletherapy during COVID-19 in South Africa. The goal was to shed light on how these families can be better supported and how teletherapy practices can be adjusted for this population. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological research design using in-person and virtual semi-structured interviews with 18 purposively sampled participants with children with CP who received speech and language teletherapy during COVID-19. The data was evaluated using an inductive thematic analysis approach whereby themes elicited from the caregivers' narratives were analyzed. Interviews (n = 18) unveiled the significant understanding caregivers gained by becoming integral and active stakeholders in the provision of teletherapy. Caregivers were able to meaningfully communicate and bond with their children with CP. However, caregivers also assumed the burden that teletherapy placed on them, as they had to renegotiate their role during the pandemic in order to provide routine teletherapy. Findings indicated the need for person-centered SLP teletherapy interventions that utilize contextually and culturally responsive techniques and resources.

A mathematical model to study herbal and modern treatments against COVID-19

Abstract In this paper, we propose a two-group deterministic COVID-19 model which takes into account educational campaigns and the fact that people infected with COVID-19 may choose either modern (allopathic) medicine, traditional medicine or may combine the two modes of treatment. The model is analysed in the case where modern medicine is the only mode of treatment and when traditional medicine is taken as an adjuvant (or another mode of treatment). We prove in the first case that the model has a disease-free equilibrium (DFE), globally asymptotically stable when the control reproduction number is less than one and whenever it is greater than one, we prove the local asymptotic stability of the endemic equilibrium. In the second case, we prove that, misconceptions in the population lead to a backward bifurcation phenomenon, which makes the control of the disease more difficult. We derive using the Lyapunov method that a threshold T $\mathcal{T}$ ensures the global asymptotic stability of DFE in some cases when its value is less than one. Both models are fitted using daily COVID-19 cumulative cases reported from January to February 2022 in South Africa. We found a control reproduction number less than one, meaning that COVID-19 will be eliminated. Comparison of the two models fits highlights that misconceptions should be taken into account to accurately describe the dynamics of COVID-19 in South Africa. Numerically, we prove that educational campaigns should focus on preventive measures and both traditional and allopathic medicine health care systems should complement each other in the fight against COVID-19.

Modeling COVID-19 spread and non-pharmaceutical interventions in South Africa: A stochastic approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a pervasive worldwide influence, including on South Africa, which stands out as one of the African nations most substantially impacted. As of March 20, 2021, the nation has encountered a multitude of obstacles in its efforts to contain the virus’s transmission. Conventional approaches to forecasting the transmission of contagious illnesses frequently prove inadequate when it comes to comprehending the intricate dynamics of COVID-19, specifically with regard to stochastic disruptions and the efficacy of non-pharmaceutical interventions. The deficiency in predictive modeling has impeded the capacity to effectively evaluate and execute measures to reduce the spread of the virus. The principal objective of this study is to construct a novel stochastic model, denoted as SEIHR, that can effectively forecast the transmission of COVID-19 in South Africa while also assessing the efficacy of diverse non-pharmacological interventions. By conducting an extensive data analysis spanning from April 17, 2020, to September 13, 2021, this research endeavors to provide a comprehensive and nuanced comprehension of the dynamics of the epidemic, with a particular focus on its early surges. Using the idea of stochastic Lyapunov function theory, this study aims to find out if there is and is not a solution in the given model. It also wants to find out what conditions must be met in order to get rid of diseases when there are random disturbances, such as white noise. Using this model, the efficacy of interventions such as lockdowns in preventing the spread of the virus during the epidemic will also be critically evaluated. The primary objective is to furnish policymakers and health authorities with invaluable insights and tools that will enable them to more effectively manage and alleviate the COVID-19 crisis in South Africa and comparable settings.

Disability and Spatial Exclusion Under COVID-19 in South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a range of existing inequalities. People with disabilities are disadvantaged worldwide and frequently denied spaces within personal and public contexts. This article focuses on the environmental and functional experiences of people with disabilities and service providers in South Africa during the pandemic. Lockdown conditions resulted in diminished spaces and loss of agency, consequent to increased dependence on families, the state and the non-governmental organization sector. Service providers had to suspend most services and experienced a lack of government support and collaboration. Mental health issues emerged as a key concern. Despite challenges, online technology provided opportunities for ongoing support, learning, and delivery of certain services. Such findings highlight the need for greater stakeholder collaboration with people with disabilities and their organizations toward increasing their agency and representation, and assessing disability-inclusive policy.

Women’s Mental Health During COVID-19 in South Africa

Women’s mental health vulnerability, already a concern before the COVID-19 pandemic, has been exacerbated due to social isolation and restrictions on daily activities. This paper aims to follow a cohort of women from pre - to during the pandemic to determine the change in their mental health using the PHQ-2 scale (a mental health screening tool). Additionally, we investigate whether women with depressive symptoms before the pandemic suffered similarly to those without while controlling for pandemic-related factors. Primarily, we use the Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey dataset and apply pooled ordered logit and fixed effects ordered logit models. We find that the value of the PHQ-2 scale significantly increased during the first period of the pandemic and then eased over time. Interestingly, the behaviour of the individual scale items differed over time. This result questions the internal reliability of the scale during the pandemic and the importance of analysing the scale items individually. Furthermore, being depressed before the pandemic increases the probability of ‘depressive feelings’ and does not matter for ‘anhedonia’. Other factors increasing the probability of mental health disorders are taking care of children for 13–24 h a day and living with a person who has gone hungry. In contrast, wearing a mask and living in a grant-receiving household decreases the probability. These findings inform future researchers of the unexpected behaviour of scales and policymakers of the vulnerability of women’s mental health during unprecedented times, given their vital role in increasing the well-being of future generations.

Business Engineering 4.0: The Transformation of a University Course in Response to Industry 4.0, Sustainable Development Goals, & Covid-19 in South Africa

The rising waves of Industry 4.0, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19 have resulted in repercussions that have challenged the status quo. In preparation, Action Design Research (ADR) was used in Engineering Education as an adaptive mechanism. This research paper follows a 5-year development journey of a Business Engineering course at a South African university. The paper discusses the adaptations and refinements in response to the waves above and how they were integrated in the content, presentation and assessments of the course. Furthermore, this paper extracts generalizable findings for Engineering Education and reflects on the design of the next cycle of the course in anticipation of further waves.

Antivirals for the treatment of mild and moderate COVID-19 in South Africa

While the majority of COVID‐19 cases in South Africa (SA) are mild, patients with severe COVID‐19 requiring hospitalisation present with significant morbidity and mortality and place a substantial burden on healthcare services. Given the low vaccine uptake in SA and other low‐ and middle‐income countries in sub‐Saharan Africa, the high prevalence of comorbidities and limited healthcare system capacity, evidence‐based interventions that reduce the risk of severe disease and death should be considered for implementation. Several antiviral classes have been newly developed or repurposed to treat COVID‐19 early after infection to retard progression to severe disease and reduce the risk of death, particularly in the elderly and/or in patients with comorbidities. COVID‐19 antivirals such as remdesivir, nirmatrelvir/ ritonavir and molnupiravir are safe and cost‐effective and have received either full approval or emergency use authorisation from regulators. Using a proposed test‐and‐treat strategy, judicious use of antivirals could be impactful.

Municipal special budget adjustments in response to negative impact of COVID-19 in South Africa

Municipal special budget adjustments in response to negative impact of COVID-19 in South Africa

Impact of Omicron COVID-19 restrictions on air transport and tourism to and from South Africa

Background: The governments of important tourist source markets imposed additional travel restrictions (the Omicron restrictions) to South Africa (and neighbouring states) as a result of the identification of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa. These restrictions interrupted and paused the recovery in international and regional passenger traffic to and from South Africa and its neighbouring states.Objectives: To determine the impact of Omicron-related air travel restrictions on passenger demand, the number of flights operated (supply of services), average passenger loads carried and salient tourism indicators.Method: The study identifies the monthly number of passengers and flights operated before and immediately following the imposition and lifting of Omicron-related travel restrictions. The counterfactual, to determine the traffic and tourism recovery would have been had these restrictions not been imposed is made by interpolation.Results: Significant decreases in the annual number of passengers carried, flights operated and the average loads of passengers were identified within two geographic areas, international and regional traffic, on over-border flights affected by Omicron restrictions and the impact on tourism and employment.Conclusion: The Omicron restrictions interrupted the recovery trend that started to emerge and caused a decline in passenger and tourism flows, tourism spending and employment.Contribution: The study determines the impact of the Omicron restrictions on South Africa to prevent rapid government overreaction where the causation of contagion is not objectively demonstrated.

Newsprint representation of the alcohol sales bans during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa: A mixed methods analysis

Aims: Content analysis of newspapers covering the alcohol sales bans during Covid-19 in South Africa.
 Methods: Mixed method content analysis of the highest circulated, paid for, English language newspapers published by four newspaper outlets in South Africa, between 26 February to 26 September 2020 (seven months).
 Setting: South African Bibliographic Information Network (Sabinet) and Arena Holdings Media databases were used.
 Participants: 317 newspaper articles were identified for analysis from four newspapers: Sunday Times (Arena Holdings), Daily Sun (Naspers), The Star (Independent Media) and the Mail and Guardian (Media Development Investment Fund).
 Measures: Qualitative data: a structured coding frame was used to identify themes. Quantitative data: date, agency, placement/page number in the newspaper, number of graphics, words in heading and in article and whether the article was based on opinion or fact. The media vectors: framing, responsibility and newspaper media exposure were calculated.
 Findings: Articles were predominantly unfavourable toward the alcohol sales bans, indicated that government should take responsibility for prevention of harmful alcohol use, and focused mainly on the negative economic impact of the alcohol sales bans.
 Conclusions: News agencies should make a concerted effort to ensure balanced reporting on matters of health and put measures in place to prevent undue influence on journalists by large corporations, such as the alcohol industry.

Appraising Psychological Adaptation During Covid-19 in South Africa: A Descriptive Study Illustrating the Need for Multi-Model Monitoring of Mental Health

The devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic on society raised the question of how best to gauge society’s psychological adaptation to continually evolving global disruptor events, such as Covid-19. This paper aims to illustrate the use of different approaches to monitor society’s psychological response to Covid-19, in order to argue for a more comprehensive, multi-model, approach. The results from different approaches are presented in two studies employing measures of mental disorders and mental distress, respectively, using South African samples for demonstration. The first study presents findings from repeat administration of measures of common mental disorders (major depressive and generalized anxiety disorders) across three consecutive years, while the second study presents findings from mood response profiles (measured with the Brunel Mood Scale) collected across five time points during the Covid-19 pandemic. Both studies showed that the Covid-19 pandemic was temporally associated with adverse mental health outcomes across the mental health continuum, and that mental health profiles were associated with both time since onset of Covid-19 and subsequent wave occurrence. Elevated prevalence of common mental disorders, as well as fluctuating patterns of mood response profiles, are discussed against the context of Covid-19. The paper concludes that a multi-modal approach, for instance measuring specific mental disorders as well as more general mental distress, is crucial to comprehensively understand society’s psychological adaptation to major disruptor events, and guide health sector responses. The paper serves as a reminder to continue to observe mental health more inclusively to appropriately respond to the psychological needs of communities.

Estimating the time-varying reproduction number for COVID-19 in South Africa during the first four waves using multiple measures of incidence for public and private sectors across four waves.

The aim of this study was to quantify transmission trends in South Africa during the first four waves of the COVID-19 pandemic using estimates of the time-varying reproduction number (R) and to compare the robustness of R estimates based on three different data sources, and using data from public and private sector service providers. R was estimated from March 2020 through April 2022, nationally and by province, based on time series of rt-PCR-confirmed cases, hospitalisations, and hospital-associated deaths, using a method that models daily incidence as a weighted sum of past incidence, as implemented in the R package EpiEstim. R was also estimated separately using public and private sector data. Nationally, the maximum case-based R following the introduction of lockdown measures was 1.55 (CI: 1.43-1.66), 1.56 (CI: 1.47-1.64), 1.46 (CI: 1.38-1.53) and 3.33 (CI: 2.84-3.97) during the first (Wuhan-Hu), second (Beta), third (Delta), and fourth (Omicron) waves, respectively. Estimates based on the three data sources (cases, hospitalisations, deaths) were generally similar during the first three waves, but higher during the fourth wave for case-based estimates. Public and private sector R estimates were generally similar except during the initial lockdowns and in case-based estimates during the fourth wave. Agreement between R estimates using different data sources during the first three waves suggests that data from any of these sources could be used in the early stages of a future pandemic. The high R estimates for Omicron relative to earlier waves are interesting given a high level of exposure pre-Omicron. The agreement between public and private sector R estimates highlights that clients of the public and private sectors did not experience two separate epidemics, except perhaps to a limited extent during the strictest lockdowns in the first wave.

Perpetuation of household food insecurity during COVID-19 in South Africa

BackgroundPerpetual food insecurity has long-term health and development effects on populations. The global pandemic created sub-populations that were newly food insecure, but there exists sub-populations were food insecure, and COVID-19 held that situation. This study seeks to identify the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the perpetually food insecure in South Africa in order to obtain specific evidence of populations to be prioritised in the post-pandemic era.MethodsSecondary data from the South African National Income Dynamics CRAM Survey for rounds (Waves) 1 and 5 are analysed. The study population are those respondents who reported a household member not having enough food to eat in the early stages of the pandemic (1st round) and remained without sufficient food a year later (5th round). The study controls for the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the population but also changes to employment status, social grant access and willingness to be vaccinated. Descriptive and analytical statistical tests are used.ResultsA total of 26.15% of respondents were food insecure at the start of the pandemic. Of these, 41.09% remained food insecure a year later. The drivers of perpetual food insecurity during the pandemic include unemployment (OR = 2.09; CI 1.335293–3.265678), still being unemployed (OR = 1.86; CI 1.308032–2.636252), seven or more (≥ 7) household members (OR = 1.24; CI 1.1611329–1.610126), those with only a primary education (OR = 1.11; CI 1.5051066–2.434695), participants between the ages of 45 and 64 years old (ORs = 1.03 and 1.20; CIs 1.0171956–1.0171956 and 1.1733304–2.144875, respectively) and women (OR = 1.09; CI 1.0745444–1.406035).ConclusionsSouth Africa needs to address socioeconomic challenges and inequalities to assist the perpetually food insecure and to ensure that, should there be a pandemic resurgence, or a new pandemic, individuals and households in the country are in a better financial situation and appropriately supported to avoid food insecurity at all costs.

Exploring the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa: a descriptive phenomenological study

ABSTRACT Background The incidence and prevalence of COVID-19 continues to escalate globally, with the consequence to quality of life, the economies of nations and various sectors of society. While there is substantial research on the impact and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, little remains known about the perceptions and lived experiences of families living with people diagnosed with COVID-19, particularly within the South African context. Purpose To explore the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. Methods A descriptive phenomenological design was used. Data were collected from 15 participants who were family members of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. Purposive snowball sampling was used to identify and recruit participants, and data were collected at community level in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng, South Africa. Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect the data, and an audio tape was used to record all interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a phenomenological data analysis processes. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Research Ethics Committee—reference number: BREC00003228/2021. Results Four super-ordinate themes emerged in relation to the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. The superordinate themes were: (1) sources of information about COVID-19, (2) pandemic perceptions and experiences, (3) impact of diagnosis and related burden and (4) aftermath of living with a family member diagnosed with COVID-19. Discussion and conclusion Family members’ perceptions and lived experiences of COVID-19 are largely influenced by media, moreover, the impact of diagnosis has consequences for the physical, mental and emotional well-being of family members. Diagnosis disrupts family dynamics by depleting financial resources due to the caregiver burden experienced. The findings thus imply that provision of psychosocial support is imperative for families living with persons diagnosed with COVID-19.